Abstract:
Natete wetland which is located in a suburb of Kampala city in Uganda is dominated by Cyperus papyrus
and covers an area of approximately 1 km2
. The wetland receives wastewater and runoff from Natete
town which do not have a wastewater treatment facility. The main objective of this study was to assess
nutrient retention of Natete wetland and specifically to: determine the wastewater flow patterns in the
wetland; estimate the nutrient loads into and out of the wetland; determine the nutrient retention by
soil, plants and water column in the wetland; and assess the above and belowground biomass density
of the dominant vegetation. Soil, water and plant samples were taken at 50 m intervals along two transects cut through the wetland; soil and water samples were taken at 10 cm just below the surface. Physico-chemical parameters namely pH, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in situ.
Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen,
orthophosphate and total phosphorus. Electrical conductivity ranged between 113 lS/cm and 530 lS/cm
and the wastewater flow was concentrated on the eastern side of the wetland